“Funk to me is a way of life. It’s an attitude, way of living, way of walking, the way you talk. You know…soul.”

Dennis Chambers is back at the Drumeo Studio (he was last here in 2017) to film another full length drum lesson and a ton of legendary course material for Drumeo members.

Since his last visit, he’s recovered from a liver transplant, a house fire and the pandemic, so he’s glad to be back and doing what he loves.

In this lesson, you’ll see Chambers play through some Funkadelic, John Scofield and James Brown (all artists he’s worked with) and learn about his approach to funk drumming.

Lesson Index:
0:00 – SONG: “(Not Just) Knee Deep” by Funkadelic
3:15 – Introduction
7:58 – SONG: “So You Say” by John Scofield
12:00 – Breaking down the cowbell groove
13:50 – SONG: “Pick Hits” by John Scofield
17:35 – The fatback groove (check out the course)
23:46 – SONG: “I Got The Feeling” by James Brown
26:26 – What he learned playing with Parliament-Funkadelic
29:36 – What is funk?
32:23 – SONG: “One Nation Under A Groove” by Funkadelic

About Dennis:
Dennis Chambers is a drumming legend who has recorded and performed with artists such as Santana, Steely Dan, Parliament/Funkadelic, John Scofield, The Jacksons, The Brecker Brothers, Victor Wooten, Mike Stern, and many others. Dennis is mostly known for his ability to perform with impeccable and funky timing in virtually any style, as well as his fast chops – but he’s perhaps most noted for his jazz-fusion, funk, and Latin music playing.

Dennis Plays:
Pearl Drums
Zildjian Cymbals and Drumsticks
Evans Drumheads

Follow Dennis:
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What if funk/fusion drummer Dennis Chambers was the drummer for Tool?

(Don’t tell Danny Carey.)

Dennis is known for his legendary backbeat and funky style. So of course we felt mischievous and we dared him to try playing “Schism”, one of Tool’s biggest tunes. It’s full of odd time signatures, quick, complex changes and unexpected accents, and Dennis had never heard it before.

But we didn’t ask him to learn the real drum parts: we wanted to see what he’d come up with on his own after hearing the song once. While you’ll hear the song with drums in this video, Dennis was actually listening to a drumless track.

“This is not me,” he warned us as he listened through the track, but “in my younger days, this would’ve been up my alley!”

How will Dennis Chambers not only learn a song he’s never heard before, but in a style he’s unfamiliar with – and in odd time, at that?

Since the song doesn’t have a drum track, he listens for two things: the style and the time signature. Watch Dennis’ playthrough where he gives it his own spin. It’s solid, it’s groovy, and there’s some unexpected footwork later on. It’s amazing how much a song can change with a different approach on the drums.

You’ve never heard Schism played like this before!

We’ve challenged other pro drummers to play songs after hearing them once. See how they did here:

• Larnell Lewis (“Enter Sandman”)
• Greg Bissonnette
• Rashid Williams
• Gil Sharone

If you like Dennis Chambers, he has an entire 12-lesson course on funk drumming for Drumeo members. Join today and learn from the best!

Watch Dennis Chambers play “Blue Matter” off John Scofield’s 1986 album of the same name (and stick around to the end where he breaks down the groove).

This performance features a laid back groove, ghost notes, double strokes on the kick, and the deepest pocket. It’s a lesson in control and discipline: you don’t need to be flashy to be a great drummer! Dennis Chambers is well known for playing exactly what the music needs.

Close your eyes and just listen to Dennis’ incredible touch and dynamics. What a great sounding drummer.

When John Scofield was first putting this track together, Dennis started playing a go-go beat at rehearsal, which was inspired by “We Need Some Money” by Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers. Do you hear the similarities?

For more Dennis Chambers videos and drum lessons (plus a lot more), become a Drumeo member! 

When he was just 13 years old, Dennis Chambers was invited to play drums with the legendary James Brown.

He wasn’t allowed to go on tour unless he brought a tutor with him, and unfortunately it wasn’t possible at the time.

Dennis Chambers went on to have an incredible career anyway, cutting his teeth with Parliament/Funkadelic, John Scofield Band, Carlos Santana and many others.

But Chambers will always remember the James Brown opportunity and continued to enjoy his music.

The first thing he learned to play was called a ‘fatback’, a beat whose name developed from a specific-sounding groove Brown wanted to hear.

You can find the fatback in many James Brown tracks, including “I Got The Feelin'”. What makes it different from the even more legendary ‘funky drummer’ beat? Chambers demos both in this short but sweet video about two groundbreaking grooves from the late 60s/early 70s.

Want more Dennis Chambers videos and stories? Check out this free full lesson from the last time he visited the Drumeo studio!